US, Northern governors meet on Wednesday in Abuja – USAID

The United States of America Mission in Nigeria and some select Northern governors will on Wednesday night meet in Abuja to discuss wide range of issues, the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Prof Ade Adefuye, has said.
Adefuye told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja that the meeting was a follow up to last month’s meeting between US officials and some Northern governors in Washington D.C.
“The US is very much committed in the stability and development of Nigeria and they have not reneged in strengthening areas of shared mutual concerns and interests,” he told NAN.
Also, the notice of the meeting, which was circulated to journalists on Tuesday, said the US Agency for International Development Administrator, Rajiv Shah, would attend the meeting.
NAN reports that Shah is in Abuja to attend the World Economic Forum on Africa, holding from May 7 to May 9.
Although details of the meeting were not made public, government officials familiar with the meeting said the abduction of the schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State and US government’s effort to assist Nigeria curb insurgency would top its agenda.
However, a statement issued by the USAID said Shah’s participation in WEF events would focus on strengthening food security and ensuring greater access to reliable energy.
It also listed raising awareness on the US government’s effort to support peace and bring an end to violence in South Sudan.
According to the statement, Shah and USAID are playing a leading role to drive President Barrack Obama’s priority initiatives to reduce hunger and double access to energy in Africa.
Meanwhile, the Mission Director of USAID in Nigeria, Michael Harvey, has called on youths to move beyond personality politics and hold political parties and candidates accountable for real issues.
Harvey spoke at the launch of screening of “Song of Naija”, a 30-minute documentary profiling young Nigerians expressing their expectations for Nigeria’s future.
“Register and vote based on candidates’ programmes, their experience and their commitment to ensure basic service delivery for the community,” he said.
NAN reports that the film, which was screened on Monday night in Abuja, was produced by US-based production company, Mcnally Temple Associates, with popular Nigeria artist, Banky W.